asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement about supplies of solid smokeless fuel for domestic consumption in the North-West Region.

Solid smokeless fuels for domestic consumption are at present in good supply in the North-West Region. Local authorities considering future supplies for smoke control areas should consult direct with the fuel industries.

asked the Minister of Power if he will ask the British Standards Institution to consider determining standards for domestic coal.

No. The National Coal Board already classifies domestic coals by quality groups. It is also supporting the efforts of the trade to ensure that consumers are informed of these group numbers when they buy coal.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the fact that the Eastern Electricity Consultative Council at a meeting on 13th March objected to the Electricity Board's practice of placing on the consumer all responsibility for making good money lost when thieves steal from electricity meters, the type of which is a matter determined by the Board itself, whether he will reconsider his policy of leaving this discretion to the area boards, and issue a general direction prohibiting the practice.

No.

asked the Minister of Power what the percentage increase in charges to the private consumer has been over the past three years for gas and electricity.

Between the last quarters of 1960 and 1963, the average revenue per unit for sales of gas to domestic consumers rose by 5½ per cent. and for sales of electricity by 11½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Education what is the normal delay between a child's absence being reported and the school attendance officer instituting proceedings.

The institution of proceedings is a matter for local education authorities and is often a last resort after other efforts to deal with a case have failed. I would not be justified in asking authorities for information to try to establish the delay which normally occurs in those cases where proceedings are instituted.

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will require the Liverpool Education Authority to publish notices of intent under Section 13 of the Education Act before introducing changes into the status and functions of the city's grammar schools;(2) if he will appoint a committee of inquiry into the proposals of the Liverpool Education Authority to reorganise secondary education in the city in a way that will result in the destruction of many grammar schools.

Until the Liverpool Authority has officially notified me of its detailed proposals for the reorganisation of secondary education, I cannot say whether any proposed changes in the position of individual schools would require the issue of notices under Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944. In my view the procedure laid down in this Section for testing proposals for individual schools is likely to provide an adequate opportunity for objections to be heard, and I do not therefore propose to take the unprecedented step of setting up a public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the fact that Cardiff Education Committee has imposed a penalty of £50 on the father of a boy taken away from technical high school before completing five years' tuition, whether he will issue a circular recommending that local authorities adopt a uniform penalty to be charged in such cases.

I am not satisfied that school life agreements, and particularly the enforcement of penalty clauses, are justified now that there is a strong tendency for more and more pupils to stay at school beyond the statutory leaving age. I would not wish to endorse the practice by issuing the guidance which my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Minister of Education what discounts manufacturers of gramophone records allow retailers to offer to local education authorities.

I have no information on this subject.

asked the Minister of Education if he will give an assurance that the Lindsey County Council's proposals for extending the De Aston Grammar School at Market Rasen will not be cut or reduced when he approves their school building programme for 1965.

I am including a project for the extension of this school to enable it to become a mixed school in the Lindsey authority's school building programme for 1967–68.

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that children from council schools who pass their 11-plus allocation examination and proceed to independent grammar schools recognised by him cannot use the municipal schools dental and medical clinics to which as children of ratepayers they are entitled; and if he will take steps to end this practice.

No. Under Section 78(2) of the Education Act, 1944 (as amended by Section 4 of the Education Act 1953), a local education authority may make arrangements upon financial or other terms with a proprietor of a school which is not maintained by them to secure the medical and dental inspection and treatment of pupils at such schools. In the absence of formal arrangements under this Section, a local education authority is not bound to make facilities available for the attendance of such pupils at its clinics.

asked the Minister of Education how many new schools have been built since January 1960; and in which categories they have been.

Between 1st January, 1960, and 31st December, 1963, about 1,060 new primary schools and 643 new secondary schools were completed in England and Wales, including first instalments of schools. In addition, 55 primary and 448 secondary school major projects were completed consisting of extensions, alterations or remodelling of existing schools.

asked the Minister of Education what assessment he has now made of the advantages and disadvantages of building modern schools with large areas of glass in the walls; and, in view of the problems involved in connection with insulation, fuel efficiency and temperature control at all seasons, what proposals he has for modifying these designs in the future schools programme.

A joint study has been undertaken with the Building Research Station on the lighting of schools and colleges, including ways of meeting the requirements for natural lighting without excessive areas of glass. A new Building Bulletin on this subject is in draft and there are existing bulletins on fuel consumption. These bulletins are intended to assist architects, but decisions on design are the responsibility of school and college authorities and their architects, subject to compliance with my building regulations, including those on lighting, heating and ventilation.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on the provision for primary school education at Buckhurst Hill.

The area is served by a county primary school and St. John's Church of England Primary School, both in old buildings. The Essex authority has not submitted any proposal to me for the improvement of accommodation in its 1965–68 school building programmes. The authority is aware, as I am, of the local feeling about Buckhurst County Primary School, but it has felt unable to include an improvement project for it in view of more pressing needs elsewhere in the county.

asked the Minister of Education how many public libraries specialising in technical and scientific books, journals and periodicals now exist; and to what extent this number will increase.

The number of public libraries which are recognised as local agents of the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, which have established a post of technical librarian or which have become the centre of local systems for the provision of scientific and technical literature and information is 50. I am confident that this number will increase, but the exact extent of the increase cannot be estimated.

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in the introduction of local education broadcasting services; what consultations he is having on the problem; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to the hon. Members for Greenwich (Mr. Marsh), Leeds, South (Mr. Merlyn Rees) and Flint, East (Mrs. White).

asked the Minister of Education if, in view of the importance of adult education, he will take steps to increase the grant to the Yorkshire district of the Workers' Educational Association for 1964–65, which has been assessed on the basis that the class programme in this area will remain at its present level.

These grants have not yet been assessed, but I have advised the bodies concerned to plan their programmes for 1964–65 on the assumption that their work will be on the same scale as in 1963–64, when some expansion was authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for compensating county councils for the cost incurred by them in recapturing escaped prisoners; and whether he will make a statement.

I have no such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a visa to visit the United Kingdom has been refused to Mrs. Z. Ochnio of Poland.

The British visa officer in Warsaw has been authorised to grant a visa to Mrs. Ochnio for a visit to this country, provided that certain conditions are fulfilled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of Her Majesty's Government's decision not to reintroduce flogging as a punishment for crimes of violence and the fact that these crimes are increasing in number and in gravity, what other steps he proposed to take to protect the public, especially those in charge of wages and other large sums of money: and if he will make a statement.

As I have made clear in reply to previous Questions, there is no evidence that flogging is a particularly effective deterrent to crimes of violence. The police take all possible steps, within the limits of their resources, to prevent this type of crime. The Police Research and Planning Branch in the Home Office is engaged on a special study of some of the problems of safeguarding cash in transit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what documents he required Mr. Tshombe to produce when he applied, via the British Embassy in Madrid, for permission to enter this country to lecture at the Royal Institute of International Affairs; and why permission to come to this country was refused.

Mr. Tshombe was informed that his application for a visa could be considered only if he possessed an acceptable travel document. He has since produced such a document, and I have authorised the grant of a visa for a short private visit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on approximately what date he asked the London County Council to speed the preparation of plans for the rebuilding of Mile Oak Approved School; and on what date he received the plans as approved by the council.

In November 1962, the council were authorised to proceed with the planning of two new buildings at this school, and were asked to begin work as quickly as possible. Following discussions between officers of the Home Office and the council, plans for these buildings were submitted for approval in October 1963. Since then, further discussions have been in progress to study how the very high estimated cost can be reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to allow the public to purchase picture postcards and tour guide books from bookstalls which open on Sundays.

I do not contemplate the introduction of legislation about Sunday trading until the report of the Crathorne Committee has been received and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the delay in the submission of the Crathorne Report on Sunday observance laws, if he will consider the proposed abolition of the Sunday charity levy on cinemas as a separate issue.

There are no grounds for treating the issue of the Sunday charity levy in isolation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the police report on the activities of Sydney William Haines; and what further action he proposes to take.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what matters are at present being considered by the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

The Committee is engaged on a comprehensive review of the law of larceny, and is also considering two other questions relating to perjury and the attendance of witnesses in criminal trials which I referred to it in December last.I have just received the Committee's report on the question of the continuance of a criminal trial following the discharge of a juror, and this will be published shortly.I have decided that the time has come when the Committee could most usefully consider the important question of the classification of crimes into felonies and misdemeanours, and I have now accordingly referred to the Committee the following question:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, if he will state the total cost of the one-million acre Kenya settlement scheme to the British Exchequer; and what extensions of this scheme, or what additional schemes, are envisaged.

The one-million acre scheme will cost about £16 million. The question of a possible further extension is now under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to what extent a common policy was agreed upon as a result of the meeting of Commonwealth Ministers and economic representatives held in London.

After its meeting in London on 19th and 20th March the Commonwealth Economic Consultative Committee issued a joint statement, the text of which is as follows:COMMONWEALTH ECONOMIC CONSULTATIVECOUNCIL CONFERENCEMARLBOROUGH HOUSE19TH–20TH MARCH. 1964

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how much of the annual sum of £1,500,000 allocated by Parliament under the Commonwealth Settlement Act will have been spent on assisted passages to other Commonwealth countries during the financial year 1963–64; and how much it is proposed to spend during the coming financial year.

The sum voted by Parliament for assisted passages under the Commonwealth Settlement Acts, 1922–62 is £150,000 for the current financial year 1963–64. It is fully spent and represents the British Government's contribution to the Anglo-Australian Assisted Passage Agreement. It is proposed to spend a similar sum during the coming financial year.The figure of £l½ million quoted by my right hon. Friend is the maximum permitted under the Act for annual expenditure on any scheme or schemes. This sum is not voted annually by Parliament and is a ceiling figure for expenditure under the Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take in response to the resolution passed by the United Nations Assembly Colonialism Committee calling, inter alia, upon the Government of the United Kingdom to declare categorically that independence will not be granted to Southern Rhodesia until majority rule is established in the territory on the basis of universal adult suffrage.

We are always glad to provide the United Nations with information about British dependent territories, but our policies and actions must remain the sole responsibility of the British Parliament and Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what progress is being made with the rehabilitation of the economy of the Maldive Islands.

In 1960 Her Majesty's Government agreed to make available to the Maldivian Government a sum of £750,000 to be devoted over a period of years to projects designed to improve the Maldivian economy and their health and education services. The Maldivian economy is largely dependent on exports of fish and the economic aid projects relate mainly to the fishing industry. A boatyard has been constructed at which improved fishing craft are being built. British engines are being supplied for these craft. Maldivian fishermen have received training in drift net techniques and traditional fishing gear has been supplied. A 450 ton motor vessel has also been supplied for use in inter-atoll trade. A power station and electric supply system have been constructed at Male. Plans are in hand for improvements to Male harbour.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what action he is taking on the request of the Government of the Maldive Islands for full independence.

I have instructed the British representative in Male to discuss this and other matters with the Maldivian Prime Minister. I hope the meeting will take place shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

About 215 printed forms are used internally, and 190 externally. These figures do not include forms used in High Commissioners' Offices overseas. One hundred and twenty of the forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his Department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

In the past 10 years Treasury Organisation and Methods teams have inspected virtually the whole of my Department as well as a number of overseas posts. Their recommendations have always been carefully examined and often adopted.No use has been made of outside management consultants.My Department will continue to call upon the services of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section as need arises

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many people emigrated from the United Kingdom to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, respectively, during the latest period of twelve months for which figures are available; and how many had assisted passages to each of those countries.

The following are the figures of migrants from the United Kingdom to Canada, Australia and New Zealand:

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what consultations he has had, or intends to have, with all other members of the Commonwealth with a view to establishing a joint policy on the supply of arms to South Africa.

We continually exchange views with other Commonwealth Governments and keep them informed of our policy, which has been stated on a number of occasions both in this House and in the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry Trade and Regional Development why the Registrar of Companies has allowed a textile firm trading in Manchester to incorporate the word Huddersfield in its title, when it has no connection with the town.

I regret that the usual inquiry was not made in this case. I am assured, however, that it is the intention of the company to operate from Huddersfield.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what help is given by his Department to firms which are too large for assistance from the Rural Industries Bureau, yet wish either to start a new business or extend an existing business in a country town or village; and in what way this differs from help available to firms starting up or expanding in development or growth areas.

Assistance under the Local Employment Acts is available to firms wishing to set up or expand businesses in country towns and villages which are development districts. This assistance is exactly the same as that available under the Acts to firms in other development districts and in growth places which are development districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he is aware that, taking the three-month period of December 1963–February 1964, including the favourable figures for the last-mentioned month, imports have been rising three times as fast as exports, and that the trade gap has been averaging £85 million a month for the first three months in 1964 compared with £36 million a month in the similar period for 1963; and what action he proposes to take to deal with this adverse situation.

The figures which the hon. Member quotes for the trade gap are much greater than the visible trade deficit in the balance of payments, which is estimated at £33 million a month over the past three months. A marked rise in imports is to be expected during a period of rapid economic expansion. The Government's policies are designed to secure that the expansion of the economy goes forward on a sustainable basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development why he will not make representations to the Government of Eire to reduce the duty of 36 per cent. imposed on imports into that country of leather wrist-watch straps from Britain.

It is often the case that the tariff of one country differs from that of another on the same article, and this fact does not of itself constitute a ground for representations. The tariff on leather wrist-watch straps imported from Britain into the Irish Republic has recently been reduced from 40 per cent. to 32 per cent., and the British straps enjoy a preference of 16 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will list the schemes for providing better conference buildings and centres in this country which he now has under consideration.

The following is the list of projects for new conference buildings whose progress or prospects I am following with interest.

London South Bank (project for comprehensive development to include an hotel, exhibition halls and a conference hall).

Crystal Palace (project for exhibition and conference centre).

Covent Garden (outline project for hotel and international centre to be built on the site now occupied by the market).

Brighton (exhibition hall and conference centre, due for completion by the of this year).

Southport (project for two conference halls).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development if he is aware that work has not yet commenced on the building of a new factory which had been approved by his Department at Washington, County Durham, by the Tube Steel Investment Company; if, in view of the fact that public money was advanced to enable the company to purchase almost 300 acres of land at cheat rates as an inducement to build in the area in 1961, and that Government grants were made to Durham County Council and to Washington Urban Council to enable them to build new roads and sewers on the site, he will have a full investigation made into this matter; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware that Tube Investments Ltd., have not started work on their proposed factory at Washington. No public money, however, has been advanced to the company. The only grant made by the Government in support of the project is a small one to the Washington Urban District Council for road building. In these circumstances, I do not consider that an investigation is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many factories have been completed and how many new jobs have been provided thereby in Sunderland since January, 1960.

Twelve new factory buildings on new sites for which industrial development certificates were issued have been completed in the area covered by the Sunderland group of employment exchanges since 1st January, 1960. They were estimated to give rise to 2,828 new jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development what factory extensions have been carried out in Sunderland since January, 1960; and how many new jobs have been provided.

Twenty-two factory extensions for which industrial development certificates were issued have been completed in the area covered by the Sunderland group of employment exchanges since 1st January, 1960. They were estimated to give rise to 1,531 new jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for industry, Trade and Regional Development if he will publish a list in HANSARD showing the dates on which the various provisions of the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, come into force.

The following is the information asked for:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many people, men and women, respectively, are employed in the North-East in factories administered by the Industrial Estates Manage-men Corporation for England.

The latest available figures, at November, 1963, show 63,393 persons (28,224 males and 35,109 females) employed in these factories.

asked the Secretary of State for industry, Trade and Regional Development how many people, men and women, respectively, are employed in Sunderland in factories administered by the Industrial Estates Management Corporation for England.

The latest available figures, at November, 1963, show a total persons (3,924 males and 4,526 females) employed in these factories.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development how many applications for industrial development certificates, applicable to the Isle of Sheppey, were received by his Department during the twelve months ended 14th March, or to the nearest convenient date; how many of these were granted; and what is the number at present under consideration.

From the 1st March, 1963, to the 24th March, 1964, two industrial development certificates were issued for the Isle of Sheppey. No applications were refused and none is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will state the figures of trade between the United Kingdom and Japan for the year 1963; what improvement they show in United Kingdom exports to Japan; and whether Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty of 1962 has succeeded in developing increased exports of United Kingdom manufacturers to Japan.

In 1963, the value of United Kingdom exports to Japan was £49·4 millions f.o.b. and the value of United Kingdom imports from Japan was £52·7 millions c.i.f. The United Kingdom export total in 1963 was £6 millions higher than that of 1962, an increase of nearly 14 per cent. The answer to the last part of the Question is yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether the survey for the East Midlands, including Lincolnshire, will be produced on the same lines as that presented for the South-East of England; and when it is hoped that it will be completed.

No such study is contemplated at present. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will give details of the financial aid he has offered to the South-West Regional Committee.

This matter is under discussion with the Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters posted in Cairo, Egypt, in air mail envelopes are often not delivered at addresses in London until five or six days later than the date shown on the postmark; if he will state the cause of this delay; and by what route and airline the mails are sent.

No; but if my hon. Friend will let me have details of any delays of the sort he has mentioned I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he has taken to improve efficiency and reduce manpower by reorganising his Department with the help of the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section; what use his department makes of outside management consultants; and what such action he is proposing in the near future.

The procedure and organisation of the Post Office are continuously under review with these objects in mind and the day to day efficiency of Post Office services in the constant concern of management at all levels.The Post Office has its own Organisation and Methods service exclusively employed on work calculated to improve efficiency and reduce manpower. There in close liaison between it and the Treasury Organisation and Methods Section which also helps in training.The Post Office has used outside management consultants for specialised problems from time to time. They are currently advising on accountancy and telephone directory problems.

asked the Postmaster-General how many different types of printed forms are used in his Department for internal and external use, respectively; and whether all these forms are included in the List of Standard Books, Forms, etc., for use in the Public Service published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

There are some 10,000 types of forms used by the Post Office, including about 2,000 used externally.Nearly all these forms are peculiar to Post Office work and so are not included in the publication mentioned, which is a list of forms for common use by Government Departments.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will reconsider the policy of the Post Office which restricts the award of university scholarships offered by the General Post Office in electronics, electrical and mechanical engineering to male students.

The scholarships are confined to male students because the grade of Executive Engineer, which student apprentices are expected to enter on completion of their studies, is not open to women as some of the duties are considered unsuitable for women. My right hon. Friend is having the case for this restriction reviewed.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he is aware that since the new Cambridge radio telescope began operations in November, 1963, about one-third of the observing time has been ruined by interference; and what action he proposes to take to prevent this;(2) if he will make representations to the operators of a powerful radar source, situated outside this country, who are using the 406–410 megacycle per second wave band, to avoid interference with radio astronomy observations;

The 406–410 megacycle per second band is allocated to various radio services. The Radio Astronomy Service was permitted to share the band following the 1959 international Administrative Radio Conference, but while all practicable steps are taken to protect the service from harmful interference from other authorised radio users it is not always possible to do so.Radio astronomers use exceptionally sensitive receivers, and radio noise which could be tolerated by receivers of other radio services in this band can cause interference to radio telescopes. Interference can be caused by transmitters operating on frequencies within the band used or by spurious radiation from equipment operating on another band. Radio astronomers have no claim to protection under the Radio Regulations if the interference is caused by a radio service operating in accordance with those regulations, although in this country we try to help the radio astronomers as much as we can when a case of interference arises. The frequency spectrum is too crowded to reserve this band exclusively for radio astronomers.When the new Cambridge radio telescope began to operate and interference was experienced, the source of the interference was traced and steps were taken to remedy it. Since then other interfering signals have been received and my officials are investigating these complaints. I would not be justified in establishing monitoring stations to identify interference to radio astronomy. We must continue to rely on radio astronomers to furnish adequate data themselves to enable this to be done.The International Telecommunication Union recommends radio astronomers to maintain close co-ordination with their national administrations on matters of frequency usage. In order to effect closer liaison with radio astronomers my officials lave established a series of regular meetings with their representatives. The difficulty over the 406–410 Mc/s band was discussed in detail only last month and is under active joint examination.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now allocate the 606–614 megacycle per second wave band to radio astronomy on a permanent basis; and if he will propose to the Inter-Union Committee on Allocation of Frequencies that other nations should do the same.

It has recently been agreed by the International Telecommunication Union that in Europe the 606–614 megacycle per second radio frequency channel may be used by radio astronomers on a permanent basis. In reaching this decision the Union took full account of the views of I.U.C.A.F. The channel is, however, part of a radio frequency band allocated by the I.T.U. wholly for the broadcasting service. In order to assist the radio astronomers the I.T.U. asks administrations to avoid using the channel for broadcasting services for as long as possible and thereafter to avoid the use of such effective radiated powers by broadcasting stations as will cause harmful interference to radio astronomy observations. At the present stage of development of television in the United Kingdom I cannot go further than this.

asked the Postmaster-General how many packets have been delivered to the most recent date for which figures are available under the Household Delivery Service.

2½ million—up to the 7th March.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made towards providing very high frequency and television service in the Isle of Lewis; at what date this year service will be officially available in Lewis and Harris and in South Uist and Barra, respectively; and what special difficulties are now delaying the British Broadcasting Corporation's work programme in bringing service to those areas.

The B.B.C. hopes to open its Melvaig station about the end of this year. From this station the B.B.C.'s V.H.F. sound and television services will be broadcast to Lewis and most of Harris. The same services will be broadcast to most of the remainder of Harris, to North and South Uist and to Barra from the B.B.C.'s Skye station which will pick up its signals from the Melvaig station. The B.B.C. hope to complete the Skye station early next year.The principal reasons for the delay in opening these stations have been difficulty of access to the Melvaig site, protracted negotiation of rights of way for the access road now being built, and a particularly difficult choice of site in Skye from which to serve, not only most of Skye itself, but also the southern half of the Western Isles.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has carried out the special review promised in May 1960 to the hon. Member for Tynemouth on the anomalies arising from special Income Tax allowances; and whether he will announce his findings in his Budget.

My right hon. Friend reviewed the whole personal allowances system before the 1963 Budget, when he introduced a reform under which the former first reduced rate band of £60 was absorbed into a larger personal allowance, with further improvements in personal allowances for married men and in the allowances for dependent children.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange for paper for Stationery Office contracts to be delivered free of freight to printers in the north of Scotland.

It is the practice of the Stationery Office not to make any charge to printing contractors in respect of the freight charge for delivery of paper to their premises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in a full year of deferring the collection of Estate Duty on the death of one spouse until the death of the survivor.

Assuming for the purpose of this estimate that the duty now due on the first death were collected in full on the death of the survivor, the cost to the Exchequer would of course be the shortfall in receipts during the transitional period. This cost would diminish with the passing of years but at its maximum might be of the order of £120 million or, if the postponement were restricted to the duty on the amount of property now passing to the survivor, of the order of £50 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many computers are now used in the Treasury; and whether he intends to increase their number in the near future.

There are no computers in the Treasury and there are no plans for having one in the near future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to accept the recommendations of Report No. 3 of the National Incomes Commission on remuneration of academic staffs; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council has made today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the estimated average taxable income in 1962 corresponding to the estimates of average original income by income group per year as given in Economic Trends, February, 1964.

Figures in the precise form mentioned cannot be provided because, for the purposes of this study, the figures of income include various items which are not part of taxable income, such as farm produce consumed by the farmer's own household, and the imputed rent of owner-occupied dwellings; in addition, employers' and employees' contributions to National Insurance are amalgamated and both are regarded as direct taxes on income. I will, however, bear in mind the possibility of providing figures in the form suggested when similar estimates are prepared in future.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he has studied the implications of the police report on the activities of Sydney William Haines, a property owner, a copy of which has been supplied to him by the Secretary of State for the Home Department; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has arranged for the Milner Holland Committee to have a full account of the matters dealt with in a report supplied to him by his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what were the amounts spent in interest charges by the County Borough of Sunderland for each of the years 1950 to 1964.

The figures^* are as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in view of the fact that the increase in population in the South-East may come partly from Scotland, why the Scottish Office is not mentioned as one of the Government Departments consulted by his Department in the preparation of the official publication, South-East Study, 1961–81.

The Study names the Departments which were particularly concerned in the working out of its detailed analysis and proposals; these are the Departments most intimately concerned with land use and economic trends in the area concerned. But it makes it clear that these were not the only ones consulted. There was close consultation with all the Departments concerned, including the Scottish Development Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what acreage of land suitable for industrial development is available on the Isle of Sheppey.

I am unable to give a precise answer at short notice, but will make inquiries and write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT his estimates of the population of each of the Greater London boroughs in 1981, and the comparative 1961 census figures.

My right hon. Friend is asking the Registrar General how soon these estimates, which are his responsibility, can be made available and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs if he will state the total value and numbers of statutory and discretionary improvement grants, respectively, made by the borough, urban and rural district councils of Sudbury, Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Hadleigh, Deben, Melford, Samford, and Cosford in each of the past five years; if he will give comparable figures relating to each type of council for Norfolk and Essex separately for the corresponding periods; and if he will express all financial data in terms of each 1,000 population.

To provide this information would involve extracting 1,700 separate items. If my hon. Friend could narrow his inquiry, I will see what information may be readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what was the average size in square feet, the average building cost, the average annual loan charges and the total cost of three-bedroom local authority houses built in England for each year since 1951.

The following table gives the average floor area of two-storey, three-bedroom houses approved in each year with the average tender prices. I do not have information about loan charges and total cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will list the colonies where there are no family-planning clinics where instruction may be given in birth-control techniques involving contraceptives.

I am obtaining this information and will write to the hon. Member when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what military aid is now being given to the South Arabian Federal Territory of Beihan in order to enable the frontier with the Yemen to be adequately defended.

We pay for the federal forces and are providing operational and administrative support for them as necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals Her Majesty's Government have regarding the subsidisation of public transport in the area of the Greater London Council.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. A. Lewis) on 25th March.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of recent proposals for building comprehensive car parks over railway stations in the London commuting area; and whether, in view of the benefits of developing such parks in order to reduce congestion in London, he will take steps to make the necessary arrangements with suitable organisations for constructing these parks on an economic basis in the near future.

Yes, I am aware of these proposals, but I have no powers to provide parking space off the street or to cause others to do so. Such provision is a matter for local authorities, the Railways Board, the London Transport Board and private enterprise. I am sure they will consider what might be done on these lines.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Highway Code booklet was last revised; how often it has been reprinted in the last 12 years; when the next edition is to be printed; and whether he will include an instruction on the front page of the next edition that the booklet should be kept in the motorist's car.

The last revision of the Highway Code was approved by Parliament in July 1959. The only other revision made in the last 12 years was that approved by Parliament in November 1954, Consultations on a fresh revision will start shortly but it is unlikely that it will be submitted to Parliament for approval before 1965. The Highway Code is a manual for all road users, not only for motorists, but I will consider the suggestion that the front page should advise motorists to keep the book in the car.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will announce a decision on the passenger train service north and west of Inverness by 31st March.

I received the report of the Transport Users Consultative Committee on these proposed closures this week My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has still to receive the views of the Highland Transport Board. These are expected shortly.We shall require some time to study these reports and to make an overall assessment, and it would be quite impossible to reach a considered decision by the end of this month.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the Steering Committee on Merseyside Traffic and Transport about the proposed withdrawal of the passenger train service between Liverpool Central and Gateacre; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the Steering Committee on Merseyside Traffic and Transport about the proposed withdrawal of the passenger train services between Liverpool and Wigan; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the production and export of certain specialised footpath maintenance vehicles weighing over three tons are jeopardised as a result of Statutory Instrument, 1963, No. 2126, dated 19th December, 1963, which forbids the use of such vehicles on all macadamised footpaths in Great Britain; and whether he will reconsider the provisions of these regulations.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Power and I are considering this and other representations that have been made about the Vehicles (Conditions of Use on Footpaths) Regulations, 1963.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he has made towards the final decision on the line of the Fareham bypass section of the new South Coast trunk road; and whether this decision is to be delayed by considerations of city building under the new proposals of the Committee on South-Eastern England.

The planning of the South Coast road in the area of Portsmouth and Southampton is still at an early stage. Before any decision is reached about the line of the Fareham bypass to be published under Section 7 of the Highways Act, 1959, I will consult with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government about any implications of planned developments in the area.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will reply to the letter sent to him on 19th February by the hon. Member for Carlisle requesting that he should grant an interview to a delegation from the London Road Protest Group, Carlisle, in connection with the proposed construction of a dual carriageway along London Road.

I will be replying as soon as I can after Easter.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the National Ports Council will visit the harbour of Dundee in order to consider its recommendations regarding the reorganisation of the Firth of Forth harbours as against the regional requirements of the Scottish East Coast ports as a whole.

I will convey the hon. Member's suggestion to the chairman of the council, but I understand that the council has already received written representations from the Dundee Harbour Trust and that it has met the chairman and general manager of the trust to discuss the position of the port.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has sent to the letter of the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee to him about the need for a harbour of refuge in the South-West.

I cannot trace having received such a letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for enabling the Orkney Steamship Company either to retain the existing second ship on the North Isles run or replace it.

I have received local representations in favour of the retention of the "Earl Sigurd". I am in touch with the Orkney Islands Shipping Company about them. I will let the right hon. Member know the outcome in due Course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the final cost of the new Dundee Trades College; and what was the amount of the architect's fee.

While the final cost is not yet known it is expected to be close to the contract sum for the building, which was £828,619. The architect's fee based on that sum would amount to £42,605.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of how the architects' fee of £525,000 for the new Dundee teaching hospital is calculated; and how many architects and their assistants are at present employed on the hospital.

The fee equals 5 per cent. of the cost of the work, currently estimated at £10,540,000, and is based on the appropriate scale published by the Royal Institute of British Architects. The precise number of staff employed at any time is the concern of the architect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he will take steps to increase cooperation between schools and further education centres; and if he will examine the possibility of interchange of pupils and staff between those institutions;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that headmasters consult local industries and other educational interests in their area concerning curricula and other matters of common interest; and whether he will examine the possibility of introducing vocational elements in the curricula, with a bias towards local industries;(3) whether he will ensure that a paid careers master and/or mistress is appointed in every secondary school;(4) whether he will take steps to increase the clerical and administrative assistance available in secondary schools and further education centres.

These matters will be covered in a circular I shall be sending to education authorities shortly asking them to implement the recommendations of the working party on the Linkage of Secondary and Further Education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects that facilities will be available for every person not exempted to attend junior colleges until the age of 18.

The Government have given priority to the raising of the school leaving age to 16 over the introduction of compulsory part-time education for young people up to the age of 18. It is not, therefore, possible at this stage to say what facilities would be required after 1970 for such compulsory part-time education. The present technical education building programme has, however, been planned to allow for considerable expansion of facilities for day-release students.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many of the local authority houses completed in the Isle of Lewis in 1952, 1953 and 1954, respectively, building had started by October, 1951, or been approved h y October, 1951, respectively.

Of the houses approved at the end of September, 1951, in Lewis but not then completed, 68 were completed in 1952, 38 in 1953, and 29 in 1954. My records do not show how many of these had been started at the end of September, 1951.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the local authority houses built since 1962 in Barra, South Uist, North Uist and Harris, respectively, were built as houses for old people; and how many local authority houses in the Isle of Lewis, on which building began after 1951, are two-apartment houses and/or old people's houses to toughly equivalent space standards.

Since the beginning of 1962, six such houses have been completed in South Uist, 14 in North Uist, and four in Harris; while nine have been approved in Barra, five in Benbecula, and a further 12 in Harris. Since the beginning of 1952, 82 have been completed in Lewis (including Stornoway).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the local authority houses completed, started, and approved, respectively, by October, 1951, in each island of the Outer Hebrides were of two, three, four and five apartments, respectively; and how many of the houses approved in each year after 1951 were of two, three, four or five apartments, respectively.

I am sending the hon. Member the detailed information for which he has asked, so far as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the net loss of population from Scotland through emigration for the period 1961–81 as a basis for his plans for Scottish development during this period; and what part of that net emigration is estimated as likely to go to the south-east region of England.

In the years 1961-62 and 1962–63, net emigration from Scotland to other parts of Great Britain and overseas has averaged just over 30,000 a year. The central Scotland White Paper assumed that this might be reduced to about half between 1961 and 1971, and to about one-sixth between 1971 and 1981. It is impossible to say how much of this reduced volume of net emigration might be to the south-east of England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has reached a decision on the schedule of tolls submitted to him by the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The schedule proposes that the toll should be 2s. 6d. per vehicle, subject to certain statutory and other exceptions in terms of which certain special classes of vehicles would pay no tolls. The period during which objections might be lodged elapsed on the 20th March; none has been received in such terms as to make an inquiry necessary.The total cost of the bridge and other works authorised by the Forth Bridge Orders, 1947 to 1964, is now estimated to be about £19½ million, towards which my Department will have lent to the Joint Board over £14 million repayable in the normal course within 30 years.The level of tolls required to meet the cost of maintenance and of debt charges, including the repayment of the loan, cannot be determined until experience has been obtained of the actual volume of traffic using the bridge. I agree therefore that a toll of 2s. 6d. per vehicle should apply during the first year while experience is being gathered, and I have accordingly approved the proposed toll schedule without modification. The Joint Board has been so informed.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consult other Commonwealth Governments with a view to securing their views on the proposal to establish a World Health Organisation International Research Centre in order to assess the scientific and medical contribution it can make to Commonwealth countries.

There have been informal exchanges between Commonwealth delegations at the World Health Assembly and we shall continue to keep in touch with Commonwealth Governments.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will institute an inquiry to examine the criteria to be used when medical research experiments are carried out on human beings with particular reference to the need to obtain the approval of patients to such experiments.

The Medical Research Council has been reviewing this matter in consultation with my advisers and those of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I await the results.

asked the Minister of Health why steps have not so far been taken to recommend the withdrawal of tranylcypromine, which has already been withdrawn in the United States.

asked the Minister of Health why the drug tranylcypromine has not been withdrawn from use, in view of the fact that it is no longer employed in the United States of America because of the dangers involved.

Because the Committee on Safety of Drugs did not so advise. The Committee has warned doctors of a number of possible adverse reactions, including those noted in America, and suggested some useful precautions.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to control, ban or withdraw any drug found to be harmful after testing by a committee to be set up independent of the pharmaceutical industry.

asked the Minister of Health how many children under the age of five years have died as a result of suffocation in the last five years; and what information he has concerning circumstances common to each case.

The available information is as follows:

The need for additional powers to control the sale of drugs is one of the matters being examined in the current review of medicines legislation. Meanwhile the pharmaceutical industry is complying with the voluntary system operating under the independent Dunlop Committee.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will seek powers to establish a committee independent of the pharmaceutical industry to which all new drugs must be submitted for toxicity tests and clinical trials before approval is given for their use.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the number of perinatal deaths in each regional hospital board area of England and Wales in 1963, and the percentages of the total live and still births in each area; and what estimate he has made for the early weeks of 1964.

I regret that the figures are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Health what arrangements now exist for the diagnosis of cervical cancer in Sheffield; and if he will make financial provision to enable the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board to develop adequate cervical cytology services in the city.